Fort LeBoeuf to face powerful Hopewell in PIAA volleyball

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Fort LeBoeuf volleyball coach LeAnn Byer is looking for a little more fire from her team today.

After a terrific run in the District 10 Class AA playoffs, the Bison put together a flat performance in the first round of the PIAA playoffs Tuesday.

LeBoeuf can't afford a similar effort today as the Bison take on District 7 runner-up Hopewell, the No. 1 team in the state, in the state quarterfinals at 2 p.m. at Sharpsville High School. LeBoeuf's match is sandwiched between a Class A showdown between Maplewood and Clarion at noon and Meadville and Mars at 4 p.m.

“Last week we played fantastic and I was really happy with our energy and consistency,” Byer said. “Tuesday was a little scary. I thought we played flat, and the girls knew it wasn't good. I gave them Wednesday off because they haven't had an off day in a while and I'm hoping they bring more energy against Hopewell.”

Fort LeBoeuf (18-0) has been outstanding this season. The Bison rolled to the Region 5 title before dominating in a talent-heavy D-10 field to win another D-10 championship. LeBoeuf swept Ambridge on Tuesday but struggled to get a rhythm going.
The Bison will need to play much better today against Hopewell (14-1), which was upset by Mars in the D-7 championship last week. Hopewell features star Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, whom area fans might remember from her dominating performances on the basketball court the past few years.
“We played Hopewell over the summer at the Indiana camp and split with them,” Byer said. “They are a very good team and we know it will be a good game. The girls know they have to play their best against very good teams and did that against Meadville in the D-10 championship.”
The Bison standout front line of Maria Peluso, Jolene Young, Amanda Krolczyk and Larissa Cass will have its hands full with Hopewell. It will likely take big efforts from Abby Rose and Allania Banta as well to slow down the powerful Vikings.
Aside from Walker-Kimbrough, Hopewell has solid hitters in Gabrielle Stala and Mackenzie Woolsey, making defense and mistake-free offense big keys for the Bison.
“I think our exposure to bigger teams has really helped with the confidence level this year,” Byer said. “The girls know they can play with anybody and we've been able to prepare well for every opponent.”
LeBoeuf played a solid schedule, including a trip to the State College tournament. There, the Bison split with North Allegheny, the No. 8 Class AAA team in the state, and lost to Hempfield, No. 6 in AAA, and Parkland, the defending Class AAA state champion and No. 1 team in the state.
Meadville will face a brutal test as well in Mars.
“WPIAL teams are very offensive, and we are expecting to see a middle attack we've yet to see this year,” Meadville coach Tammy Webber said. “Everyone up here has a strong outside attack, but we know Mars is great at attacking in the middle.”
The shorter drive will also help after Meadville had to travel 170 miles to Shanksville to take on Somerset in the first round Tuesday.
“We didn't know what to expect with Somerset, but the fact that we beat them nine miles from their school is great for our confidence,” Webber said. “These girls have been playing big teams throughout their careers and we've prepared as much as we could.”
Meadville and LeBoeuf are each one step away from making it an all-District 10 semifinal Tuesday and guaranteeing that D-10 would be represented Nov. 17 at Central York High School.
“(Saturday) should be a good day of volleyball,” Webber said. “I'm excited there are two D-10 teams in the top eight in Class AA. That says a lot about our district.”